SageHill Ranch Journal

[SageHill]

His continued nursing will help to bring her milk in... as much as she is capable to produce. Some just do not have enough... but first time mom, being accepting of the lamb, is a definite plus. Keeping the lamb with her will also make him a "sheep" as opposed to totally bottle fed / pet type that sometimes do not make the transition to being a real lamb/sheep.... he will learn the grazing and eating patterns of the sheep... this ewe is the prolapse one right? So, not worried about a 2nd lambing so she can do as good as she can do this time, and you can do some supplementing... and that will be the best of the situation... I would do the supplementing 2 or maybe 3 x a day, but let the lamb work on her during the evenings and nights...
Glad someone isn't in the "frigid" temps...

Yup, it's the ewe with the prolapse. She looks better, though all that skin is still stretched out (to be expected) and she will be heading to the auction either soon if she rejects the lamb, or after weaning. She's only an ok mother. She'll call to him sometimes, but doesn't seek him out. He'll start going to her and she at best will stand and wait. Sometimes she'll just walk away. If he calls out to her she doesn't respond 80% of the time. She does let him nurse, that's about the only plus. Her bag is small and doesn't seem to fill, seems more like drying off.
As much as I thought of bringing the lil guy to the house, I left him at the barn with the others. My thinking is/was he needs sheep time as well as feeding time. If I take him away then he'll eventually have to go back and assimilate into the flock. So leaving him was my inner "do this". Glad to hear that my gut instinct is on track. Thank you!
I was going to supplement 3 times today, but it's looking like 4. I could see him going down / getting less perky so gut instinct - feed him. Damn I'd pump a few cups into him if I could - but I know that's a definite no do. Human condition feed like it's Thanksgiving . LOL I've raised enough dog litters to give me a rough idea of what to do.
My other guy feeling is that he needs to move around more. Muscle tone, digestion, and basic stimulation. Since it's stall cleaning day he stuck around with me while the rest went out to the pasture - his choice, and mom left w/o even looking back or a maaaaaa. Damn lil guy is stinkin' cute. Followed me all around including down the road a little to park the trash cans out for pick up. He's getting better, but still has better times than others - so up and down improvement. Averaging on better, but I'm not holding my breath. I'll do the best I can and if he makes it great! If not I'll know I gave him more days and good ones than if I hadn't stepped in.

 

[farmerjan]

I think you are doing it right... yes, needs to be moving around and exercising, and if you have to feed 4 x then it is what it is... the longer he can stay with her the better so he will be part of the flock... I am hoping she will do good enough to stay until time for weaning him...and he has some size to him too...
One thing to think about... Easter is the last Sunday in March this year... so you would want to take her a week or 2 before that as there is more demand for lamb and goat meat... by then he will be over 2 months and weaning would be normal for many to wean male lambs and kids... by 3 months at most...I know he has been banded, but he is in that age time frame.... and he will be as much of the flock as he can be at that point. If you have any others you are thinking of selling, then that would be the time to do some "cleaning house" too....
Hope he keeps getting a little better .... and does good.

 

[SageHill]

@farmerjan -- I usually keep track of dates like Easter but this time didn't even occur to me to check. Thanks!
I haven't banded him yet. Up until now I felt he was probably stressed enough since at one point I thought he was just saying "I'll just die". Looking at a week old to do that deed.
Lil guy update:
Gaining weight - started at 7.6 lbs, then 8.4 and today 9.0 lbs. He is still drinking from the bottle, though not as much in a feeding as just after we started. Actually now about what the package says for amount. Momma ewe is also letting him nurse, though I still don't think she's much of a provider.
He now comes when called "Lambie lamb lamb" , He follows me all around, though sometimes he stops to investigate things, taste dirt, taste flowers. I've seen him bouncing around with the ewe lamb - very cute. I'm making sure he's getting some exercise walking around some of the more tasty graze areas (man - I miss grazing, Obi on injured reserve and the new lamb issues, Zo is ready but too many things to get done). I have seen him on the cam jumping around. So that's good.
I have noticed that he shakes fairly often. Like a wet dog type of shake, body shake then neck and head. Not sure what that's about.

 

[Baymule]

He’s doing so much better! Adorable picture, makes me want to pick him up and hug him. You are doing great as a lamb momma, keep it up, he has improved so much!

 

[SageHill]

He’s taking less and less of the bottle, staying out in the pasture and not laying down when I let them out. Mama ewe is talking more to him - I ~think he’s getting more from her now .
A few more ewes look like they’ll lamb. One any time now - walking away from me she looks like a cow!

 

[Mini Horses]

Milk comes in better with consumption so, maybe more there. Plus, he's stronger & more aggressive due to mamma2 giving extra -- so it's a working combo! . So glad to hear.

 

[SageHill]

2024 lamb count - one more, so far three. The newest born yesterday- another Friday lamb and a ewe lamb. This time I didn’t need to help - yay.
But looks like momma doesn’t want to hold still long enough for the lamb to nurse. Sigh. Not too sure she’s actually connected to the teat long enough. Tried holding mamma but no “heat seeking missle “ from the lamb. 2024 learning thing for the day, tie mamma up and milk her. Got some and transferred to the lamb. Will repeat soon since I can’t get any more out of mamma. They’re back in the jug. I was thinking if she was out she may be more relaxed. Ha. Well it was worth a try!
This lamb is a chunky girl. Nice bone on her and of course a pretty color at least to start.

And you know who loves the lambs. This is the one I’ve been supplementing and he’s looking good now .

 

[Baymule]

Ewes often walk away from lambs trying to nurse. Jugging them is a good idea.

 

[SageHill]

Ewes often walk away from lambs trying to nurse. Jugging them is a good idea.

Yup. I see that all the time. My second nature is to watch and wait. What I was seeing was a lot of trying with the ewe walking away or spinning (like a horse that doesn’t want to be mounted). To the point of the lamb giving up and laying down. Then not even trying. That’s when I watch really close and eventually step in if no progress is made. Jugging helps, but needed to get things going. I had to tie the ewe up to milk here the first time. It probably hurt to add pressure to those mammaries. I didn’t need to tie her the second time, and she’s not one of the ewes that likes attention. Heck she’s doing good on a normal day if she takes an animal cracker!
All is well now. Lamb is nursing.

 

[SageHill]

It’s a rainy rainy pour down day. Sheep are all in the barn.
And a little bit of lamb hyjinx happenin’ in the aisle.

Trouble makers in the hay stall.

The newest addition - Friday's ewe lamb